A gift from Heaven

Recently an immigrant mom, who had been under domestic violence for many years who entered our office completely scared, shaking, and covered in tears. She couldn’t even talk from the terrible experience she had just gone through.

Her friend that was helping her began to give me details of what happened the night before. After the victim had calmed down, she confirmed what her friend had said; she also gave me more detail about the episode.

My first question to her was if she had called the police and had filled a report. With broken words she answered “no.” Her children’s father had told her if she called the police they would deport her and take the children away from her.

During that time, we had the opportunity to call the police, file a police report, and set up an appointment with a Legal Advocate.

At this time, she is safe under the Hennepin County Family Protection and has received her own apartment with her two kids, away from her abusive husband.

She recently said to me, “I have no words to express my gratitude for everything ResourceWest have done for me and my Kids. You are gift from Heaven.”

A Starfish story

As the Starfish Coordinator, I have the privilege of working with some clients on a long term basis.
In November, two Starfish clients who had previously tapped the maximum Starfish grant/loan fund were again in very real need of some financial help.  No other resources are available for this type of expense.

On a few rare occasions, I have contacted a benefactor of ResourceWest when there seems to be no other options.  This person has risen to the occasion each time a request has been made.  It happened again!
We are so grateful to “our” benefactor and it was a thrill to contact these two women and let them know their very real needs will be met.  What a stress reliever!

More importantly, now they can be safe as they drive to work and to necessary doctor appointments.
THANKS to everyone who contributes financially to ResourceWest but especially to this individual who goes way above and beyond.  We are making a difference for one person (or one family) at a time.

A poem by one of our beloved clients (homeless) relating how he sees ResourceWest:

Let's build roomy offices
Where we will only work on dreams
And our open walls are windows
Huge, vaulting prisms of light,
expanding spectrums,
exposing spatial spinnings
of our minds flight.

Let's remodel the stale, old lofts
and shape them into sunrooms
Eliminate the dark grey
Illuminate all the soft
visions in our hearts
And with the love of Providence
pursue the things for which we pray

Let's replace the broken glass
that clouded our clear sight
that left us sad in times of need
that bared the chill of night
Let's assemble stained glass shards
to art nouveau our view
and end illusion with imagination's seed

Let's lift grand spices heavenward
High above the cobwebbed arch
in glory over Romanesque antiquity
Our spirits soaring, on the march
Our flags unfurled proudly
Our voices singing loudly
To gain sweet freedom's victory

Lets build roomy offices
And we will only work on dreams
~ J.B.

Computer Technology Center

The Computer Technology Center (“CTC”) has been in operation since mid-2009. The CTC is staffed by computer savvy volunteers, so you can imagine, it started off slowly until we built a regular volunteer base.  We have that now!  

We have six (6) computers for people to use (provided by a grant from the ADC Foundation in 2008).  We have no time limit on how long people can be on the computer (the Hennepin County Libraries only allow an hour of use time per person) in order for them to complete what they are working on.

Our volunteers help people write their resumes, sign up for e-mail accounts, navigate the online unemployment system, apply for jobs online, and search for continuing or post secondary education opportunities. Some of our volunteers have even helped people learn how to use a computer.

We have a regular flow of CTC users.  In 2009, we saw 930 people sign in to use the computers and access our volunteers’ knowledge. Some of people coming in use the computer center almost every day.   We see others on a weekly basis and yet others, only occasionally. Anytime you come into our office, if one of tried and true volunteers are in the CTC, you will see every computer in use!  

While most people use the center to look for work, it has also been used for taking college classes, taking tests, filing for divorce, looking for grant funding, etc.  Some folks come in with very limited computer skills.  Others just need help signing on to the system and then are self sufficient.  The Hopkins & Ridgedale librarians frequently refer folks to our CTC as they need more time on the computer than the library can offer.  

Our goal is have the CTC open Monday through Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:00pm. We are in need of additional volunteers to have the CTC doors open all week. In addition, ResourceWest allows people to send faxes for free, make (limited) copies for free, and provide access to a phone for local calls. 

Often times it is the little things that make a big difference – just like in the Starfish story.

A Starfish Story

As the Starfish Coordinator, I have the privilege of working with some clients on a long term basis.  

 In November, two Starfish clients who had previously tapped the maximum Starfish grant/loan fund were again in very real need of some financial help – both transportation related.  No other resources are available for this type of expense.  

On a few rare occasions, I have contacted a benefactor of ResourceWest when there seems to be no other options.  This person has risen to the occasion each time a request has been made.  It happened again!  

We are so grateful to “our” benefactor and it was a thrill to contact these two women and let them know their very real needs will be met.  What a stress reliever!  

More importantly, now they can be safe as they drive to work and to necessary doctor appointments.  

THANKS to everyone who contributes financially to ResourceWest but especially to this individual who goes way above and beyond.  We are making a difference for one person (or one family) at a time.

Click to learn more about Project Starfish

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree Project is a community charity developed in 1996 by the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce.South Lake Community and its surrounding areas. The first year of the Giving Tree Project, the Excelsior Fire Department participated in the project in a volunteer role only. In 1997 the Excelsior Fire Department partnered with the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce and became the project organizer and guardian. In early December, the trees donated by Renewable Energy SD are placed outside Excelsior businesses for, as it’s been dubbed, “Foster Care”. The merchants provide electricity for the lights and give the trees T.L.C when needed. Everything is donated, from the Christmas lights and tree stands, to the wood used for the Stars. Stars are cut out of wood and given to local organizations for decorating. The purpose of the project was to give decorated trees to families in the

Kay Carlson from BayTree writes a poem to place on the tree so a passer-by can learn about and participate in the project. The trees receive the rest of their decorations from various resources. A promotional campaign for public decorating is started weeks before the trees arrive. The campaign asks citizens to donate ornaments and tree trimming to the Giving Tree Project. Decorations can be homemade, brand new, or have had previous tree experience. Flyers are sent to the schools and scout troops asking them to adopt a tree to decorate. It all comes together on Giving Tree pick up day a week before Christmas when the decorated trees are given to the clients of Resource West.

2010 Giving Tee Project highlights:

• A family of three was very excited to get their first live tree.
• One set of parents was ecstatic to get a tree. They had told their children that they would not have a tree this year. They could not wait to get home and get the tree set up for the kids too surprise them when they came home from school.
• Another family told us how their kids were about to burst from anticipation.
• Many families, especially the parents could not express their gratitude enough.
• One woman was so thankful she could not even speak. She just smiled as tears streamed down her face.

The volunteers from ResourceWest and I fortunate enough to have direct contact with the families and we get to see the tears of joy in their eyes and received their hugs of appreciation. Although all of you, our Giving Tree contributors could not be there to witness this holiday magic be assured your Christmas spirit was present.

Kellie Murphy-Ringate

Excelsior Fire District

Letter to Staff

Dear Santa, aka ResourceWest,

I would like to thank you for all the good you do for everyone. You help ease the burdens of the things that are out of reach to many. Even if you do not know the answer you make it easy to find. You lift the spirits of many. Many people wonder what is their purpose in life, well my Grandfather would tell me, "if I have helped one person along life's journey then I have done my share and will continue to share all the days of my life."

Happy Holidays to you all!
James B. Wells